The European Quarter Fund asked ULI, through its Advisory Services Program, to recommend ways to encourage and promote a range of uses, especially retail, along the Chaussee d’Etterbeek, the main thoroughfare through the area, and to provide insights on how to better plan their public spaces. The panel quickly indentified several opportunities related to the quarter and how they could use them to create vibrant and successful European capital community.

The panel reminded the sponsors that all great plans begin with a strong vision. The vision for Brussels was to tie four neighborhoods together using the Chaussee d’Etterbeek as a pedestrian friendly, mixed-use thriving thoroughfare. For the European Quarter to become a place where people wanted to live, work, and play, it had to be thought of as a destination, not just a mixture of small places. The panel proposed improved and integrated mobility along the Chaussee d’Etterbeek as well as street-front retail and pocket parks. Since the panel felt that there were various agendas existing for the quarter they proposed that all shareholders form a partnership. This partnership would help to set and guide the vision and enable them to work together in implementing the vision. Another recommendation was to split the implementation of the vision into several steps: short-, medium-, and long-term actions. As a result these recommendations from the panel would have several significant affects. These changes would set the framework for successful residential, retail, and services, make the European Quarter more livable, help brand Brussels as the capital of Europe, and create a place where people want to be

About Advisory Services

Since 1947, over 600 ULI Advisory Services panels have helped find creative, practical solutions for some of the most challenging issues facing communities. For more information, email Tom Eitler or call 202-624-7186.